Burnsville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Getting into an accident as a pedestrian can leave you in pain, anxious, and stressed about money. As the bills pile up, it’s important to know that compensation may be available. Call Sieben Polk P.A. at 651-437-3148 or contact us online to speak with a Burnsville pedestrian accident lawyer and learn about your rights.
- What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Burnsville, MN
- How Can Sieben Polk P.A. Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Burnsville, MN?
- What Do Past Clients Say About Sieben Polk P.A.?
- Understanding Pedestrian Accident Statistics in Burnsville, MN
- What Types of Compensation Are Available in Pedestrian Accident Claims?
- How Much Is My Pedestrian Accident Case Worth in Burnsville, MN?
- How Soon After a Pedestrian Accident Should I Contact a Lawyer?
- Why You Should Have a Lawyer Negotiate With Insurance Companies
- Minnesota’s No-Fault Insurance and Pedestrian Accidents
- Understanding Minnesota’s Comparative Fault Law in Pedestrian Accidents
- What Is the Cost of Hiring a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
- Statute of Limitations for Pedestrian Accident Claims in Minnesota
- Why Choose Sieben Polk P.A. for Your Burnsville, Minnesota, Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
- Burnsville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer FAQs
- Pedestrian accidents often occur due to driver negligence or inattention.
- If someone else is at fault for your accident, you may be eligible to claim compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
- It’s essential to contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect evidence and secure your right to file a claim.
What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Burnsville, MN
Your actions immediately following an accident can significantly impact the course of your case. Keep calm and take these steps, if possible, to protect your rights:
- Seek medical attention: Call 911 if you or others have serious injuries. If not, see a medical professional as soon as possible for a thorough exam. These medical records will be essential if you file a claim.
- Document the scene: Take photos of any property damage, visible injuries, and road conditions. Get contact information from willing witnesses.
- File a police report: Request that an officer come to the scene and take statements. Ask for a copy for your records.
- Exchange contact details with the driver: If an accident causes injury or property damage, the driver must share their name, address or email, and registration.
- Contact a Burnsville pedestrian accident lawyer: Get legal representation as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.
Filing a claim can be challenging without representation. Our attorneys will negotiate with insurers on your behalf and help you pursue full compensation.
How Can Sieben Polk P.A. Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Burnsville, MN?
When you need a pedestrian accident lawyer in Minnesota, you deserve someone with the experience and skills to fight for you. Our firm has been representing injured Minnesotans for 50 years.
Our team of attorneys draws on 200 years of combined legal experience and has received numerous professional accolades, including:
- Top 100 Super Lawyer
- Best Lawyers in America
- Top 40 Plaintiff Personal Injury Attorney
- Minnesota Law and Politics “Rising Star”
We have secured millions for injured clients, including $600,000 for a local college student who was crossing the street when a car struck her, causing significant injuries. We continue to fight for the rights of injured pedestrians and motorists across the Upper Midwest.
What Do Past Clients Say About Sieben Polk P.A.?
Our clients’ peace of mind is one of the main markers of our success. We are proud to share their testimonials of what it’s like to work with us.
Understanding Pedestrian Accident Statistics in Burnsville, MN
Hundreds of pedestrians suffer injuries every year in Minnesota. According to Minnesota accident statistics, the state recorded 805 crashes involving pedestrians in 2024. Those accidents led to 54 deaths and 735 injuries.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Minnesota
Minnesota pedestrian accidents have many contributing factors, often relating to driver negligence. Frequently observed causes include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Inattentiveness
- Weather conditions
If another driver’s negligence contributed to your accident, they may be legally responsible for your losses.
Common Pedestrian Injuries in Burnsville, MN
Pedestrians are more vulnerable to injury than drivers and passengers. The damage can be severe and have a lasting or permanent impact on the victim. Common examples include:
- Amputations
- Broken Bones
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Internal Bleeding
- Neck & Back Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Wrongful Death
Serious injuries often translate to high medical bills, costly repairs, and weeks or more of missed work. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney can help you pursue compensation.
What Types of Compensation Are Available in Pedestrian Accident Claims?
Victims of pedestrian accidents can claim compensation for both financial expenses and less tangible losses, commonly referred to as economic and non-economic damages. These are compensatory damages, meaning they compensate you for specific costs. Some victims may also receive punitive damages, which penalize the defendant for extreme wrongdoing.
Economic Damages
Economic damages include all out-of-pocket losses, including:
- Car repairs
- Replacement transportation costs
- Hospital bills
- Doctor’s visits
- Medication
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Missed work hours
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Ongoing home or institutional care
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address less quantifiable losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Reduced functional capacity
- Loss of social opportunities
Our skilled pedestrian accident lawyers can help you determine the value of your non-economic losses.
Punitive Damages, When Applicable
Punitive damages may be part of your compensation package if the defendant intentionally caused harm or deliberately disregarded the safety of others. To receive punitive damages, you must prove blatant wrongdoing, such as:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Speeding in an area with heavy pedestrian traffic
- Progressing through a crosswalk with a pedestrian visible on the road
The purpose of punitive damages is to punish and discourage this type of behavior.
How Much Is My Pedestrian Accident Case Worth in Burnsville, MN?
The value of every accident case is different. Your potential compensation will depend on the circumstances of your accident and its aftermath, including:
- Injury severity
- Property damage costs
- Incapacity level
- Impact on your work and career
- Accident fault
- Insurance policy limits
Accident settlement amounts usually fall between $10,000 and $500,000, but some are outside this range. An experienced attorney can give you a more personalized estimate.
How Soon After a Pedestrian Accident Should I Contact a Lawyer?
It’s essential to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Evidence can disappear quickly after a car crash, and insurance companies won’t hesitate to deny or minimize your claim. A lawyer can represent you and fight for fair compensation.
Why You Should Have a Lawyer Negotiate With Insurance Companies
Insurance negotiations can be complex in pedestrian accident cases, and many insurers attempt to reduce their payouts by intimidating injured victims.
Our attorneys understand the Minnesota laws that protect your safety as a pedestrian. We help you avoid lowball offers because we know that once you accept a settlement, you usually cannot file a lawsuit for the same accident. We thoroughly investigate each case and present evidence that protects your right to compensation.
Minnesota's No-Fault Insurance and Pedestrian Accidents
Minnesota is a no-fault state for car insurance. All drivers must have personal injury protection, or PIP, which covers the driver’s basic injury costs in case of an accident.
If you have PIP coverage, it can pay for your costs if you are injured as a pedestrian. If you do not have coverage, a household member’s policy may apply.
Understanding Minnesota's Comparative Fault Law in Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians may share fault in an accident, just as drivers can. Recent Minnesota crash data attributes 54 percent of contributing factors to drivers and 46 percent to pedestrians. If you share fault, you may still file a claim with the more at-fault party.
Minnesota follows the rule of modified comparative fault, meaning you can recover compensation if you are 50 percent or less at fault for an accident. If you are partially responsible and successfully collect damages, the court will reduce your award by your fault percentage.
What Is the Cost of Hiring a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
We understand that financial concerns can be a significant issue after a serious accident. Our firm offers complimentary consultations and handles every case on a contingency basis. This means you pay nothing unless we secure a favorable outcome for you. If we recover compensation on your behalf, our fee is a previously agreed-upon percentage of your award.
Statute of Limitations for Pedestrian Accident Claims in Minnesota
A statute of limitations is a state-imposed time limit for filing a legal claim. Minnesota has a six-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases, including pedestrian accidents. The clock typically starts running on the date of the accident. The time limit for wrongful death cases is three years from the date of death, but no longer than six years from the accident date.
These deadlines can approach faster than you anticipate. It’s important not to delay in finding an attorney for your case.
Why Choose Sieben Polk P.A. for Your Burnsville, Minnesota, Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
When you’ve been injured and need legal support, you deserve an attorney whose experience and knowledge are up to the task. Our firm meets that need with superior localized service, combining the personalized service of a small practice with the resources of an established firm.
We are committed to fighting for fair compensation in every case, applying a client-centered approach that recognizes your unique circumstances. Reach out now at 651-437-3148 or contact us online to speak with a personal injury lawyer.
Burnsville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer FAQs
It’s essential to contact an attorney as soon as possible. Compiling a strong case takes time, and gathering supporting evidence becomes more challenging the more time passes. The sooner you reach out, the better.
As our client, you always have the right to accept or decline a settlement offer. Our role is to inform you of the potential value of your case and help you to make an educated decision.
We may advise you to counter or reject an offer because we are aware that insurers often undervalue claims to protect their financial interests. Still, the final decision is always yours.
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning that you pay nothing unless we secure a favorable outcome. If you receive a settlement or favorable verdict, we receive an agreed-upon percentage of the award as our fee.
Settlements for pedestrians struck by motor vehicles typically fall within the $10,000 to $500,000 range, but each case is unique. The circumstances of your accident and the impact of your injuries will affect how much you can claim.
State law requires all drivers to report accidents that cause injury or death. Pedestrians are not subject to this requirement, but reporting is always beneficial, as police reports are crucial evidence in injury claims.
In most cases, victims have six years after the date of an accident to file a personal injury claim in Minnesota. For wrongful death, the time frame is three years after the person’s passing, provided the family files within six years of the accident.
As an injured pedestrian, you may be eligible to receive benefits from a household member’s no-fault policy. If such a policy is unavailable or insufficient, you may qualify to file a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
Pedestrians have a higher risk of serious injuries than drivers, and the cost of recovery often exceeds PIP protection. Our attorneys will review the evidence, assess the value of your claim, and pursue maximum compensation from the responsible party.
